It's the first question every new host asks and the hardest one to get a straight answer to: how much does it actually cost to host a retreat? The honest answer is 'it depends' - but that's not useful when you're trying to plan. So let's make it concrete. Below is a real, line-by-line breakdown of where the money goes, with realistic 2026 ranges, plus the fees that quietly eat your margin.
Costs fall into two buckets: fixed costs you pay regardless of how many people come, and variable costs that scale with each guest. Knowing which is which is what lets you price correctly - and you can run your own numbers in the free Retreat Budget Calculator as we go.
These are the costs you commit to before a single guest books. They're the reason pricing to your expected attendance - not your maximum - matters so much.